A simple blood test can detect colorectal cancer early, study finds

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/14/1238390033/a-simple-blood-test-can-detect-colorectal-cancer-early-study-finds

by toomuchtodo • 2 years ago

65 16 2 years ago

npr.org

melling• 2 years ago

An inexpensive test that could be done annually would be great. There has been a recent debate over the effectiveness of colonoscopies.

“Colonoscopies may not be as effective as thought, study suggests. Doctors disagree.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/need-colonoscopy-...

Chadwick Boseman died from colon cancer before he reached the recommended age for a colonoscopy.

verall• 2 years ago

In fact, the results were actually quite good for the people in the study who got the colonoscopies — a 31% reduction in colon cancer risk and a 50% reduction in risk of dying from it, experts said.
“In order for a colonoscopy to be effective, you have to have it done,” said Dr. Robin Mendelsohn

Huh? So the study found that being randomly selected to be invited for a colonoscopy doesn't improve your risk of dying from colon cancer, but if you bother to get the colonoscopy, it reduces risk by 50%? Maybe they previously though it would decrease risk by more than 50%.

ahi2• 2 years ago

We've gotten pretty damn good at curing colorectal cancer (not including QOL). The 5 year survival rate for even Stage 3 (locally advanced with nearby lymph nodes) is around 70%. Stage 4 (other organ involvement) is still basically a death sentence, but most people are in their doctor's office long before then. All this to say, there is going to be diminishing returns for any new treatment or early diagnosis.

unsupp0rted• 2 years ago

I’ve been having colonoscopies since my mid-20s. It’s only a mild inconvenience to do it every 1~n years. There are risks that come with sedation, of course, and a non-zero risk of perforation.

But overall it’s barely a blip on my radar compared to what a cancer patient goes through.

spondylosaurus• 2 years ago

The prep isn't too fun, but yeah, one day of clear liquids is infinitely more bearable than three rounds of chemo would be. And the risks from sedation/bleeding/etc. have to be far lower than the risks of excision surgery or -ectomy for advanced cancer.

Vecr2• 2 years ago

You've got to multiply that with the probabilities in various somewhat complicated ways, but a simple approximation is to multiply the probability of death by a certain kind of cancer by the expected loss of dying of that cancer at the expected age to die from that cancer. Yes, it's subjective. No, that's not fixable, and in my opinion it's not a problem.

jfengel• 2 years ago

I had it once, and I wouldn't call it a "mild inconvenience". It was basically two days for me, one to sit at home dealing with the laxatives, and another recovering from the sedation.

It wasn't excruciating, and it's sure as hell better than cancer. But I'm glad I don't need to do it again for another decade.

burnerburnito2• 2 years ago

You can actually schedule it so that you simply pull an all-nighter while taking the laxatives. That way you'll be cleared out by the time of the colonoscopy but only really just spend 1 day dealing with the colonoscopy prep and procedure. (You'll still easily want to sleep normally after)

TheLML• 2 years ago

I have one pretty much yearly. You have to make sure not to eat the wrong things (like seeds, nuts) several days before and then the day before eat very light food and stop around noon. Then take the laxatives in the evening and again the next day about 4 hours ahead of your procedure. The worst part to me in all of this is really drinking that cup of laxatives. The sedation (for me) has always been dosed well enough that I feel fine within 30-60 minutes after waking up. Although you can't operate a car or other machinery for the rest of the day. But I also don't have to work on those days, so it's a relaxing day to me.

Vecr2• 2 years ago

Well, you hope you don't feel anything... Are they using propofol alone? Has more research been done on how good of a painkiller it is vs a memory eraser?

burnerburnito2• 2 years ago

You just pass out on the table and wake up in a bed something like 40 minutes later. I could remember everything up to feeling the effects of the anesthetic and beginning to pass out, but nothing thereafter.

I also received lidocaine, and felt rather great afterwards for the next few hours.

ahi2• 2 years ago

General advice is first scope at 45, or if family history, 10 years prior to their onset. I was recently diagnosed at 40, so I wished my son a very happy 30th birthday in advance. He didn't find it funny. Good news that he will be able to get tested regularly long before he has to open my gift.

billy99k• 2 years ago

I've been getting colonoscopies since I was 35 (every 5 years). It's actually not that bad. With the drugs they use now, you don't remember or feel a thing.

susiecambria• 2 years ago

I agree that the colonoscopy itself is not that bad. Endoscopies are not bad, either. What's bad is the prep and that's where work is needed.

Though this year I did find that using zinc oxide makes all the difference. Spread it on, drink, use more cream/ointment after each visit to the bathroom.

theGnuMe• 2 years ago

Sweet. What is the concordance with cologuard and this blood test?

A simple blood test can detect colorectal cancer early, study finds

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